Deitch: Jones' career still a work in progress

It could have been Serbia, perhaps it should have been Los Angeles. It at least should have been Detroit, where the Nets took their National Embarrassment Tour '09-'10.

There are a lot of places Jones shoulda-woulda-coulda been this weekend, but for the time being there is work to be done, and that work is serving as the starting center for the Austin Toros in the NBA's Development League.

Earlier this week Jones, the former Chester resident who put American Christian School on the map before Tyreke Evans turned it meteoric, after which it flamed out and fizzled from existence, was named to the D-League's Western Conference All-Star team. Jones entered Saturday averaging 17.1 points, a league-leading 15 rebounds and 2 blocks in 26 games.

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The only curiosity stemming from those numbers is this: Why is Dwayne Jones playing in the D-League for about $30,000?

"Don't get me wrong. It's pretty challenging on certain days and certain moves you see," said the 6-11, 250-pound center who manned the low post when Saint Joseph's had its unforgettable 30-2 season and Elite Eight appearance in 2003-04. "Some guys are getting called up certain places where you say to yourself, 'Wow, I'm definitely playing better down here than that particular person.' But you have to stay focused and realize that you just have to stay ready for when it does happen and not get caught up in that mindset."

That question -- why is he in the D-League? -- takes on several forms, depending on whom you're asking.

There's the obvious take: Why are there so many NBA teams with the need for a center who can defend and rebound, yet none has given him a try this season? Jones isn't without NBA credentials: He has spent at least parts of the last four seasons in the NBA, including a six-game cameo with Charlotte last season and a full season in Cleveland in 2007-08, where he saw action in 56 regular-season games and even made five cameos in the playoffs with the Cavaliers.

And yet, despite adding some scoring aptitude to a resume that has always had him graded high as a defender, Jones will find himself in this Catch-22 come Saturday -- good enough to be named a D-League All-Star, yet still eligible to play in that game because the call back to the big league hasn't come.

Remember, this is a guy who might have seen limited time with the Cavs two seasons ago, but that was a playoff team. Is there a valid reason why a woeful team like the Nets wouldn't want to sign Jones, 26, to a contract, throw him in about 20 minutes per night and see if they might find a quality backup center to keep around until they decide to become a legitimate franchise again?

"I view it as the NBA is a lot more about business decisions than basketball decisions right now," Jones said. "Going into this summer I think everybody is trying to save their last penny, not wanting to pay any (luxury) tax or have a certain amount of money going into this big free-agency class. It's kind of tough on guys like myself and other top guys in the D-League.

"(The Nets) are who they are. They have 15 guys on their roster, and to bring some guys in, they might have to let some guys go that might cost them money. So it's all a business."

It's that business that can sour even the most hopeful hoop underdog. It's a business that oftentimes sends frustrated players fleeing to Europe -- or, lately, the Far East -- to find handsome paychecks and a chance to make a living in the sport.

Jones tried it. After getting cut by the Spurs this fall, he signed with a team in Serbia, only to request a release from the contract five days later.

"I've definitely cost myself money over the past year turning down jobs (overseas)," Jones said. "I definitely could be in China -- they've tried to get me over there a few times -- but I want to stay here. I have a young son. I don't want to be forced to take my family certain places until I'm to the point where I can't make it here.

"I'm still only 26, and that's considered pretty young by European standards, so I can still pursue that at a later point. But I'm definitely costing myself some money."

And so, there he will be Saturday afternoon in Dallas, taking to the same court where the NBA All-Stars will put on their show 30 hours later. Jones said it's the first All-Star invitation he's received since high school. But that has been the story of his basketball life. When he was putting up gaudy numbers at American Christian, there were those who wondered why he was there and not Chester High, playing against the best teams around. And when he was at Saint Joseph's, players like Jameer Neslon, Delonte West and Matt Carroll got much of the praise. Yet after Nelson and West left for the NBA, it was Jones who was the anchor for the Hawks as they followed that amazing season by reaching the NIT Final. Jones was named to that all-tournament team ... yet went undrafted after the season.

It has taught him that there's always more to prove, and to never assume his place in the basketball world is secure.

"Going back to being in high school, I've had that chip on my shoulder where people thought, 'Oh, well he didn't go to Chester High. He's at American Christian playing against nobodies doing this,'" Jones said. "But hard work still paid off, because I've had part of four (NBA) seasons now.